CIFOR has helped a small and remote village rich in forest resources in East Kalimantan win a prestigious environmental award from the Indonesian Government.
Known as the Kalpataru, the award was given to the small village of Setulang for its efforts in protecting their forests from illegal logging in the face of huge temptations to earn billions of Rupiah from the sale of their forest lands.
The Setulang villagers victory shows it is entirely possible for little people’ to hold out against the pressure of big and often unscrupulous business.The villagers commitment to conserve their forests led CIFOR to nominate Setulang to the Minister for the Environment for the Kalpataru award. As a result, on World Environment Day 2003, the Government awarded Setualng the Kalpataru for its pioneering spirit in contributing to the protection of Indonesia’s environment.
When money talks it is not easy to defend surrounding forests, nevertheless the Setulang villagers are highly aware of their dependency on the forest, particularly forest products to fulfill the requirements of their community. For that reason, the spread of illegal logging activities in the Malinau and the local Mentarang river region has not influenced their commitment to keeping their forests intact.
Setualng is a relatively new village, established in 1968 in East Kalimantan’s Malinau Regency. The majority of its inhabitants are Kenyah Uma 'Lung people – a Dayak community that moved to Malinau from the Sa'an river interior in Apo Kayan. With a population of 855 (208 households) and an area covering 11,000 hectares, Setulang is home to one of the few remaining primary lowland tropical forests on earth.
Several years after settling in their new location, by mutual consent the community decided not to interfere with the forests and fields in the Setulang River Catchment Area. A forest area of 5300 hectares was designated as tane olen (protected land), while a separate areas was set aside for agricultural activities. Villagers zealously guard their tane olen area, combatting illegal logging by seizing saws and imposing fines on outsiders who cut down their trees.
From 1980-1990, illegal logging activities in the Malinau and Mentarang river regions became increasingly rampant. Now almost every easily accessible location in the vicinity of these rivers with reasonable forest potential has been logged. Despite the ongoing invasion of timber company investors and forest concessionaires waving fistfuls of money, Setulang has not faltered in its commitment to preserving its forests.
Setulang is one example of a number of villages who own forest lands and struggle to protect them for the benefit of all. Kole Ajang, the Setulang village chief says it is not easy to resist the persuasive offers from investors. “Many businessmen have offered billions of Rupiah for our forest. Such offers are not easy to refuse, bearing in mind our everyday needs are becoming increasingly expensive,” Ajang said.
Kole Ajang says the tane olen areas will be protected for Setulang’s children and grandchildren. He says the forests are a vital for ensuring clean water, and for providing raw materials for handicrafts, carvings, tools, herbs and spices, medicines and for other materials needed to maintain Setulang’s culture.
The tane olen also help protect the village’s water quality. Earlier this year, prior to winning the Kalpataru, Setulang was a finalist at an international water contest in Kyoto, Japan in March 2003. On the initiative of Petrus Gunarso and Ismayadi Samsoedin, Ministry of Forestry staff seconded to CIFOR, Setulang village was entered in the contest so villagers could show what they had done to manage their water sources. Even though Setulang did not win first prize, the attendance of their representative, Ramses Iwan, was a source of great pride.
Petrus Gunarso, the coordinator of CIFOR’s work in the Malinau Research Forest (MRF), says sustainable forest management models work best when all stakeholders work together. In this there are two extremes occurring in society: Government and NGO ideas are poles apart. They both campaign for forest management for community prosperity, but often have differences of opinion in the field. CIFOR strives for the middle ground and facilitates both parties.
CIFOR promotes collaborative forest management among all stakeholders -- central, regional and forest communities. CIFOR’s research in MRF proves community forest management need not necessarily lead to the destruction and selling off of forests. One such example is a German Government funded project started recently in May 2003 that will assist the Malinau regional government in understanding how their forestry decisions impact upon communities that depend on forests. The project involves staff from the Department of Forestry and CIFOR.
The problem is how to replicate the activities of the Setulang community in other village communities. Awards such as the Kalpataru provide examples for other communities who may otherwise be tempted to sell their forests. Setulang’s win is certainly something for the community to be proud of, and is proof to many communities that the struggle to save the local forest can bring its own rewards.
“Forests play an important role in reducing povery”, says David Kaimowitz, CIFOR’s Director General, “They provide what UN Secretary General Kofi Anan has called the building blocks for sustainable development, covering water, energy, health, agriculture and biological diversity. It is very pleasing to see villages such as Setulang understand the importance of forests for their long term future. It is equally pleasing to see efforts to sustainably manage local forests are recognized by the Indonesian Government.”